Upcoming Elections
2008 General Election: 11/4/08
Polling Place Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM in all counties except:
- Burke, Divide, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie*, McLean, Mercer, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce (Precincts 1 and 2), Ransom, Richland**, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux***, Slope, Steele, Towner (Precincts 2 and 3), and Walsh Counties: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Cass County: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Mountrail, Pierce (Precincts 3-8), Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Stark, Towner (Precinct 1), Traill, Wells, and Williams Counties: 8 AM to 7 PM
* Precinct 6: noon to 7:00 PM only.
** Town of Wahpeton: 7 AM to 7 PM
*** Precinct 2 and 6: noon to 7:00 PM only.
Click here to download a North Dakota Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Voter Registration Information
Click here for a North Dakota Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Registration Deadlines
North Dakota has no voter registration. In order to vote, one must be a U.S. citizen, eighteen years of age or older, a resident of North Dakota, and a resident of the precinct in which he or she wishes to vote for at least 30 days.
How to Check Registration
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
ID must show the address of the individual's residence. Acceptable forms are:
- Valid Driver's License or State ID
- Valid Federally Issued ID (passport or Agency ID card)
- Valid Tribal Government Issued Identification Card
- Valid Student Identification Card
- Valid United States Military Identification Card
- Utility bill dated 30 days prior to election day with name and residential address
- Change of address verification letter from the US Postal Service
Those without one of the above forms of ID can vote if:
- An election poll worker is able to vouch for the voter's identity and residence.
- The voter completes a Voter's Affidavit certifying, under oath, his or her identity and residency. (Voter Affidavit)
If a voter has never voted in their current precinct before, he or she will be challenged at the polls. This does not mean that the voter cannot vote, but he or she must sign an affidavit. Because there is no voter registration in North Dakota, this is how poll workers ensure that an individual not appearing on the rolls from previous elections is actually eligible to vote.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the Secretary of State's county list or call the county auditor's office to check for your address.
Absentee Voting
Click here to visit GoVoteAbsentee.org, a resource for absentee voters.
Early and absentee voting is available to every North Dakota voter.
Submit an absentee ballot application to the County Auditor's office.
Visit the Secretary of State's absentee voting website for special absentee ballot applications if you:
- Want a friend or family member to pick up and deliver your ballot
- Are a North Dakota resident living outside the US (including uniformed service members)
- Will turn 18 while outside of North Dakota
- Have just moved to North Dakota
Rules and Deadlines:
Once the absentee ballot is filled out, return it to the County Auditor's office by hand or by mail. Hand deliveries must be received at least one day before the election, and mailed ballots must be postmarked at least one day before the election.
Early Voting
Early voting can always be done via absentee ballot.
In some precincts, an early voting polling station will open starting October 20, and voters can stop in to vote any day during operating hours. Call your County Auditor to find out where this is available.
Click here for more information on Early Voting in North Dakota
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
Normal voting rules apply for those who have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days. See the special forms section for those who have just moved. For those who recently moved from North Dakota, they should consult with their new Secretary of State.
Information for People with Felony Convictions
One is eligible to vote again when one's civil rights are restored.
For more information, go to the Secretary of State's website, or click here to download a North Dakota Election Protection Manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
